Problems with getting wedding dress

CMS33_2

I ordered a wedding dress in May last year and paid in full. I was told dress would be ready in November. Its now March and I'm still waiting. Apparently shop is having financial problems and I'm not the only one having problems. The shop told me they only need to get me dress in time for wedding as no date specified in contract. I have sent 4 letters requesting dress as I know its waiting for dispatch at the manufacturers warehouse. If I went to another store and paid again, I could get dress in 3 days. Any suggestions?

MrsTinks

How did you pay for the dress? By credit card or cash or other method? If you paid by Credit card then contact them as you might be able to claim through them. I would otherwise go and make as much of a nuisance of myself as I could! Check the agreement you have with them about the dress (do you have one?) otherwise ask them to deliver the dress within a week or refund you. And don't go away or stop calling them until you get it!
Ideally by the sounds of it then a refund would probably be best...

As for only getting it to you in time for the wedding... yes... what about the final fittings? We're talking potentially months before the wedding to allow any alterations!
When is the wedding?

CMS33_2

I paid on credit card but the credit card company said there is still a promise to get dress so they cannot act yet. Thankfully wedding is just under 6 months away. My friend ordered her bridesmaid dresses from them and 2 weeks before wedding after numerous chasers they admitted they could not get the dresses for her she had to go elsewhere. I have also spoken to some other brides who cannot get their dresses either. I already know my dress needs altering even with time on my hands I dont want to wait. They said they cannot get dress until July. Though possibly there is a chance shop will not even be there in July!

Lillibet_2

I'd be talking to the citizens advice bureau by now!

Becles

Try Trading Standards. They should be able to chase it up for you.

CMS33_2

I have spoken to trading standards and they have the said the only option left is the small claims court or solicitors letter. As originally thading standards said to request in writing the dress within 7-10 days and seeing as they ignored my letters not much I can do. Shop phoned me up last week and gave me a 100% guarantee that my dress would be in the shop on Friday (just gone) and surprise surprise no joy. They blamed admin problems. Just checked and dress still at manufacturers.

MrsTinks

I would send a recorded letter asking them to either deliver the dress in the next 7-10 days or provide you with a refund immediately. If you like explain that you are very concerned regarding recieving your dress as you have heard others have had issues. On these grounds you would like your dress delivered now or a full refund.
If they will not deliver or refund in the next 7-10 days advise them you will go to your solicitor and small claims court.

Personally I would be making myself as irritating as at all possible until you get the dress or your refund.

CMS33_2

Thankfully I sent 2 of my letters recorded delivery. In my last letter I said I required dress by 3 March otherwise I would issue a county court claim against them, instruct our solicitor to take action and inform Trading Standards of our actions and propose that they seek an immediate injunction to cease the shop from further trading. They don't seem worried about any of this though, thet ignored 3 of the letter and then before I sent 4th one they promised dress and didnt deliver.. It seems they can only pay for a dress on a case by case basis when some poor girl goes into the shop and orders from them. They make sure people pay in full rather than taking a despoit and at the time you don't question it as you are excited about getting your dress.

full-time-mum

If you decide to take the 'making a fuss' route then, if the shop is still trading then make sure you go in when there are loads of customers and start asking for your dress in a very loud voice.

Another thought, you have been in contact with the manufacturers so you can presumably you can find out if it has been paid for by the shop. If the manufacturer has already recieved payment (although I suspect this isn't the case) then maybe, just maybe, they would send it direct. If the shop hasn't paid the manufacturer then could you waltz into the shop and state this as a perlude to demanding a refund.

How about being sneaky - tell them you've had to move you wedding date forward due to personal reasons and see what happens. You know the dress is at the manufacturers and they have your money so they should be able to get hold of it within a few weeks.

CMS33_2

They keep the shop door locked (obvisouly to stop people demanding their dresses) so only let people in with appointments, plus there never seems to be anyone in there at the moment as they are getting a very bad reputation.
The manufacturer has confirmed dress has not been paid for along with another 40 dresses that are also sitting in their warehouse waiting to be paid for...
We debated telling them the wedding had moved but I think they would know we are just trying it on. Might be worth a go though.

black-saturn

Echo all the other advice but also when your complaining in front of the other customers in the shop make sure you keep saying pardon when they are talking (and on the phone if you phone while the shop is open) and blame it on an ear infection so you can't hear. They will have to keep repeating themselves loudly and loads of people will hear.

Another option is to take out wedding insurance for about £45. If there isn't everything in place which you have ordered by the wedding day you can claim on it. No good if you havn't got a dress to get married in but just a thought anyway.